Dear Members
Just to let members know that seed potatoes that were ordered are now ready for collection I will be on site from Thursday 20th February to Sunday 23rd February between 9am – 12 to give them out to members. So if you could collect them between these dates & times that would be good.
Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)
For & on behalf of Old Lane Allotments Association
Dear Members
We have a PHD student coming to our site (Emilie Ellis) on Tuesday 25th February 2020 at 10.30 she is doing research into insect pollination on allotments. Insect pollinators including bees, hoverflies & moths are declining globally, she wants to put some bee hotels around our site to see if this improves pollination on allotments. In spring she will be putting bee hotels & small grow bags around our site containing 1 x tomatoe plant also 1 x bean plant. During the Summer she will sample insects & harvest the grow bag crops. This will tell us if bee hotels can increase pollinator biodiversity & crop production.
Lets make Emilie welcome on our site. To be involved simply come to site on the above date & time. Even if you don’t want to take part I’m sure she will be able to answer questions & talk about the research she is doing.
Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)
For & on behalf of Old Lane Allotments Association
The parsnip has been cultivated since at least the Roman times, it was said that Emperor Tiberius regarded parsnips so highly that he allowed Germany to pay part of its tax to him with parsnips. We believe that frost improves flavour of parsnips, making the roots sweeter. They were used as a sweetening agent before the arrival of sugar in Europe. In Tudor times parsnips were a common ingredient in bread. In France it is often regarded as cattle fodder, while in Italy parsnips were fed to pigs. Parsnips are said to improve cardiovascular health, they contain high levels of potassium which helps to reduce blood pressure & stress on the heart.
They are very low in calories & contain high levels of dietary fibre, as well as being reasonably high in vitamins, B,C,E & K, manganese & Iron. Parsnips require an open position growing well in light, but in deep well cultivated soil. Do not sow seed on recently manured ground as this will cause the roots to ‘fork’ . The addition of a general purpose fertiliser shortly before sowing will be beneficial.
Always read sowing instructions on seed packets.
Blog & research by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)
CONTACT DETAILS
DEAR PLOT MEMBERS
If anyone changes their address, mobile telephone numbers,
or E mail details, please can you let the Secretary (Mark Burton) know as soon as possible. It is imperative that are records are correct for the site working alongside Leeds City Council.
OLD LANE ALLOTMENTS ASSOCIATION
After our recent committee meeting 2nd February 2020 we have decided to let plot members have small controlled fires on there plots. Safety has to be paramount for our site & our members. We must consider thoughts of our local residents & the buildings that surround the site, & of course the environment. Our site is in a built up area with main roads & lots of traffic. So common sense is always key to lighting fires.
Avoid burning when the wind will carry the smoke over roads & into peoples property. Always check the weather forecast . Do Not burn green waste from crops this has to be composted. Only burn dry materials like dry timber, branches from pruning. Never burn household rubbish, rubber, plastic, foam , paint tins, carpets, aerosols that will cause pollution or damage peoples health .Use fire lighters to start the fire , no petrol, mentholated spirits that will encourage the fire. Do not leave the fire unattended. Make Sure the fire is out when you leave your allotment garden.
If your not sure what to burn speak to one of the committee officials. There will be a set of Recommendations to follow on a notice on the main hut building
If someone is not following the above recommendations /rules they will be banned from having fires on there plot
Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary) For & on behalf of Old Lane Allotments Association
In Tudor times peas were a delicacy, often imported from the Netherlands, making them expensive to eat. Eating fresh peas became much more popular in the late 18th century, when British breeders started growing sweeter varieties. Gregor Mendel used pea plants in his experiments with genetics. Peas were first frozen by Clarence Birdseye who invented the ‘plate froster’ in the early 1920s in order to preserve food. The pea is said to be green when its young & immature. Ripe peas are usually yellow.
Peas have a good source of vitamins A,B1, & C. They are also high in protein, carbohydrate & fibre. The less water used when cooking peas , the less vitamin C is lost. Peas do best in an open position, but not one that is too exposed. |They are naturally a cold weather, growing best in Spring & cool Summers. They do not thrive in hot weather, drought, or poorly drained soils. Peas generally don’t germinate in cold soil, & this leaves them venerable to attack from mice & fungal diseases. Do not sow in an early cold Spring.
Always read seed packet for growing instructions
Blog & research by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)
LCC Power To Inspect Allotments
Dear Members,
Leeds City Council authorised officers are entitled to inspect allotment sites whether they are administered by Leeds City Council, or leased to a self administered association like our site. We have received information that over the growing season authorised officers will be inspecting allotment sites to see if members are, cultivating to a satisfactory standard & are utilising the land for growing purposes. As the new growing season is about to start soon we wanted plot holders to be aware of this information, & adhere to the site rules.
Old Lane Allotments Association
February is often the coldest winter month & what you can do on your allotment in February often depends on the weather. Do not slavishly follow instruction’s to sow or plant outside in February: think of the conditions, cold & wet ground will not germinate seeds it will just kill them off. If the weather allows, you can direct sow broad beans along with early peas best chance would be to start them in a cold frame and plant outside later. Onion seeds can now be started off indoors or in a heated greenhouse at home, they need to be 15 degrees C to get them going for planting out later. The greenhouse border can be brought into productive use, a row or two of early carrots can come out in eight to ten weeks, by this time the beds will be needed for tomatoes & so on.
If you didn’t plant your garlic out last November pop them in now, they like a cold spell so frost will not harm them. Conventional advice is to sow parsnips now but you will get much better germination rates in March, they will still be ready by the time the next frost arrives. Hardy lettuce can be started under glass, to provide an early salad crop along with rocket & some radish varieties.
Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)
BOLTING PLANTS
Bolt – To produce flower & seed Prematurely –
This can be caused by sudden low & high temperatures, , drought, sowing seeds at the wrong time. Plants under stress may respond by bolting so they can produce seeds before they die
Blog & Research Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)
The Allotment Diary
One of the most useful things for any gardener is a diary. Unless you are blessed with a photographic memory it will prove invaluable for the years ahead. In the diary you can keep a record of conditions, your actions, & of course your results. Make a record of what you sow, the date & the variety and also where you have sown on your plot. Make a note of what the weather is like , when the first & lasts frost occur which is useful recorded information. Its also worth recording quantities in your harvest & acceptability. When you come to order your seeds the following year you know what has grown well for you & whats not grown so good. It can be very confusing what you have grown & where recording your information will help you keep track. A diary is also useful to remind yourself of jobs that need completing writing a brief note over the growing season. Organisation & planning is key to a thriving allotment.
Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)
friendly, locally-managed allotments in Beeston, Leeds
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